Augmented Reality Apps Proliferate

by August 28, 2009

A few months ago, I wrote about the potential of first person user interfaces on networked mobile devices. This week, new augmented reality applications were released on both the iPhone and Android platforms. Augmented reality applications are a popular form of first person interfaces that enhance the real world with information not visible to the naked eye.

Yelp

Social review service Yelp has a new feature that uses the phone's GPS and compass to display markers for restaurants, bars and other nearby businesses on top of the camera's view. -Yelp Brings First US Augmented Reality App to iPhone Store

Augmented Traffic Views

Simply hold the Android handset up and the augmented reality layer displays all available traffic camera points in the direction you’re looking. Tap one to see the most current available image taken by the cam. The app also packs some added features, such as an automated predictive tracking mode that will pop up traffic cam images ahead while you’re driving. -Augmented Traffic Views for Android could be the coolest AR app we’ve seen yet

Metro Paris Subway

The app added an AR overlay that displays information about Paris businesses when you look at the city through your iPhone's camera. -First iPhone Augmented Reality App Appears Live in App Store

Wikitude

Wikitude fully integrated its OpenID-enabled wiki markup of physical locations around the world with a more sophisticated mobile user experience and preparing for the launch of its iPhone version. -Wikitude Launches User-Generated Augmented Reality Browser for Android Users, iPhone Soon